MUMBAI: SCM Microsystems, Inc. has been selected by Korea Digital Cable Media Center Co (KDMC), South Korea's digital cable service provider, to supply OpenCable compliant CableCard modules for the deployment of new pay-TV services.

SCM will begin supplying CableCard modules to KDMC in December as the cable service provide begins to transition its more than two million subscribers from their current analog service to new digital and interactive services, including digital TV, PPV, VoD and interactive data broadcasting, informs an official release.

The modules incorporate the NDS VideoGuard conditional access (CA) system and will be used to protect cable pay-TV content from piracy.

SCM and NDS have conducted extensive interoperability testing with the Korean set-top manufacturers selected by KDMC, including Humax Co. Ltd. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

"SCM's commitment to the OpenCable standard and its abilty to work closely with CA partners such as NDS give us assurance that SCM is providing the best solution available, both today and in the future," said KDMC president Park Seong-Duck.

SCM Microsystems CEO, Robert Schneider adds, "SCM has made significant investments to develop OpenCable compliant CableCard modules for the emerging digital cable market in Korea. KDMC is now the fifth South Korean MSO to select SCM technology, giving SCM the leading position in this market. We look forward to working with KDMC to deploy CableCard modules so that their subscribers can experience the benefits of digital and interactive broadcasting."

The South Korean government is targeting to deploy digital cable television to between six and nine million households in South Korea over the next several years with an aim to create a digital television industry that is both competitive for consumers and profitable for operators.